Healthy Moms Dictionary - Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder)

Posted by Cascia Talbert at Monday, April 6, 2009

Share this post:

10 Comments

Trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-ne-uh) is an irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body. Pulling hair out of the scalp leaves patchy bald spots.

Hair is associated with beauty so trichotillomania can be very emotionally painful for people with the disorder.

Trichotillomania may be mild for some and usually manageable. The urge to pull hair for others can be overwhelming. Some treatment options have helped many people reduce their hair pulling or stop all together.

Help For Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a relatively new disorder and wasn't recognized until the late 1980's. However, help is available for people with the disorder.

How to Treat Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania can be treated in two different ways. It can be treated through Psychotherapy and medications. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been proven to be an effective treatment for trichotillomania. This therapy teaches the patient how to be more aware of the hair pulling and learn how to reverse the habit. The psychologist will also point out what emotions and triggers are involved in hair pulling and how to substitute other behaviors instead.

Trichotillomania can also be treated with medications. Antidepressants are commonly used to treat the disorder, however, they are not effective unless combined with cognitive behavior therapy.

Tricotillomania and Autism

Trichotillomania is also an obsessive compulsive disorder and can be a common disorder among autistic children. More children are diagnosed with the hair pulling disorder than adults.

If you believe that you or your child has trichotillomania discuss your symptoms with your doctor right away.

More resources on Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania Prevention and Treatment
Hair Loss and it's Causes
Trichotillomania Learning Center

Labels: Dictionary, health, healthy moms dictionary, obsessive compulsive disorders, trichotillomania

10 comments:

Heart of Rachel said...: This is the first time I've heard of this kind of disorder. It's sad that some people have to go through this. Thanks for sharing this info.; April 6, 2009 6:02 AM
blueviolet said...: There's a little girl at my mom's church who has this disorder. She has her hair almost buzzed on the top and sides because she won't leave it alone. She doesn't pull the back so that's longer. They really struggle with it but I don't know them personally so I don't know what they've tried.; April 6, 2009 9:18 AM
Maria@Conversations with Mom said...: I've never heard of this disorder before. I cannot imagine the internal pain these people must be going through.; April 6, 2009 9:20 AM
Sue said...: I never heard of it either. That is too bad people have this. Hopefully they can get the help they need to stop this.; April 6, 2009 10:05 AM
Momisodes said...: I had never heard of it until I was in nursing school. While in my Psych rotation, I actually met several people with Trichotillomania, and many were treated with antidepressants with cognitive therapy. I had no idea it was common among autistic children.; April 6, 2009 10:10 AM
Felicia - I complete Me said...: Thanks for the info. I never heard of this before. I greatly appreciate it.; April 6, 2009 12:38 PM
CanCan (MomMostTraveled) said...: One of my classmates had this disorder. This was in highschool. She wore her hair in a very tight bun in the top of her head, I guess to try to stop herself from pulling it. It was very thin.; April 7, 2009 4:42 AM
RachelB said...: Thank you so very much for writing so well about such an important topic. Your information is very helpful.; April 7, 2009 11:46 AM
OilGirl said...: Years ago I was listening to a presentation on mineral deficiency. Vets are actually to thank for creating awareness about the symptoms of mineral deficiencies in humans. Chickens pluck their feathers out and other animals rub or pull out fur and exhibit other bizarre/ unusually violent behavior when they need minerals. Stress depletes mineral levels in the body, which, well, explains A LOT if we look at mental health with a holistic approach!; April 25, 2009 9:28 PM
hair loss said...: this is terribly sad I hope someone finds a cure for disease; April 1, 2012 6:46 AM

Feeds rss

Click on more

Today's Headlines